Headlines
- High Representative decision on socially-owned apartments in the Republika Srpska extended by six months
- 24 hours more for the withdrawal of the Yugoslav Army
- Yugoslav Army completed the withdrawal from Pristina
- USA extended the deadline for demilitarization of Kosovo Liberation Army
- Pensioners from Sarajevo accuse the State
- Defense of the first doctoral dissertation in the Republika Srpska
Kosovo
OBN’s journalist Duska Jurisic reported on NATO ground troops in Kosovo. NATO stated that the withdrawal of the Yugoslav Army was developing in accordance to the plan. There were no more soldiers of the Yugoslav Army in Pristina. NATO extended the deadline for the withdrawal from the South Sector in Kosovo, as Belgrade asked for 24 hours more.
The Orthodox Episcope announced his departure from Prizren. IRC Spokesman in Geneva said that 40.000 Serbs had left Kosovo and had gone to Serbia and Monte Negro. Five thousand Kosovo refugees at least had continued their return in Kosovo from Macedonia over the border Morina. OBN reporters: Natasa Narancic from Pristina and Safet Bisevac from Skoplje reported on the current situation in Kosovo and Macedonia.
During her visit to the refugee camp in Rajlovac near Sarajevo, Elisabeth Rehn said that besides patience it is necessary to create safe conditions with reference to the return of refugees in Kosovo.
Sarajevo OHR
Carlos Westendorp issued a new deadline for Filing Claims to Respossess Socially-Owned Apartments in the Republika Srpska of December 19, 1999.
In the Federation BiH the deadline remains July 4, 1999. Alexandra Stiglmayer from OHR said that the reasons for this decision are technical.
Republika Srpska
The privatization process has started in Republika Srpska today. OBN’s reporter from Banja Luka Valentina Knezevic reported on 9 companies which are included in this process.
Sarajevo
The tenth Session of the Economic Council in the Federation BiH was held. The topic was the reform of payment operations in BiH. David Whitehead spoke on this.
Sarajevo
Due to reduced pensions and irregular payments, four hundred pensioners signed a complaint petition for the House for Human Rights Protection in the Federation BiH. They accused the State, authorities, the Pension Fund and Invalid Insurance.
Army in the Federation BiH
Safety structure is a very important part of the Pact of Stability for South-East Europe. According to this the Army of the Federation BiH must undergo its internal problems. These problems are with reference to uncompleted implementation of the Law of Defense in Federation BiH, which influenced the program “Equip and Train”. OBN’s reporter Amarildo Gutic made a report on this.
Zenica
European Commission financed the reconstruction of 38 buildings for 177 refugees in Strupina village, Maglaj Municipality. This is part of the project created for return of 775 refugees to Maglaj and Zavidovici. A European Commission Representative has visited Zenica-Doboj Canton on this.
Return Process
Unknown persons hit the house of Bosniak Hajrudin Halilovic in Bijeljina. There was nobody injured but the house was damaged. This family had returned to their home in Bijeljina after six years.
The return process continues in Hercegovina. Sixty-seven Bosniak refugees returned to their homes in the Konjic region. The Head of Konjic Municipality, Kemal Bubalo said that there was no representatives of international organizations at this event. He appealed to representatives of the international community to help returnees. Thirty Serbs families returned to their homes in the Vrapcici settlement, Mostar. According to their statements, they are very pleased to be home.
There is a very short time left for the completion of the reconstruction project for 113 houses, owned by Serb citizens in the Tuzla Municipality before the war. This project should enable the return of the same number of Bosniak families to Semberija. OBN’s reporter from Tuzla, Dusan Micevic made a piece on this.
World News
The recent news and events from South Africa, Geneva, Mexico (earthquake), Pakistan-India-Kasmir.
Kiseljak
In the Kiseljak Court the verdict for Husein Engin was given sentencing him to prison for one year. He was accused for keeping a weapon and explosives illegally.
Brcko/Sarajevo/Tuzla
The executive Board of Brcko Municipality held the session on agriculture, urbanism and municipal service. OBN’s reporter Slobodanka Radojkovic reported on this issue.
The inaugural session of shareholders was held in the “KLAS d.d.” company in Sarajevo. Workers of this company are an example how to get ready for privatization process.
A syndicate of the workers in Tuzla insisted on the suspension of the privatization process until a law package which would protect them in their companies could be found. As the Syndicate forecast, 30.000 will lose their jobs during the privatization process.
Banja Luka
OBN’s reporter Marijana Cica reported about the curiosity in Banja Luka in reference to the defense of the first doctoral dissertation.
Sport
The Executive Board of the Football Alliance in BiH sent a letter to UEF to check all circumstances with reference to cancelling the Play Off in Mostar. Reports from volleyball and NBA.